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Abstract:
Acquisition of [verb] + gerund/infinitive-complement constructions can be problematic for ESL learners. Following a preliminary study identifying conflicts between rules presented on the complementation of several verbs in ESL textbooks and grammar references, this study compares gerund/infinitive verb complementation in English corpus data with their presentation in ESL/EFL textbooks and grammar references. We sought to resolve these conflicts using a corpus-based approach. Corpus-based research has looked at verb-complementation of high-frequency verbs, yet these studies did not include the verb 'mean'. Findings reveal that complementation type following 'mean' depends on which of the 11 senses of the word is being used. Additionally, frequency of usage of these senses varies significantly between the two corpora. We highlight the utility of corpora to inform practitioners about the use of gerunds/infinitive complements in general and for 'mean'. Keywords: ESL/EFL textbooks, gerund and infinitive complements, corpus